//------------------------------//
// Terrible Truths 
// Story: What Lies Within 
// by KidatHeart5 
//------------------------------//

	As groups of sea ponies left to take the bundles of bones back to Bony Rock, Cassie the kelpie and Jewel the mermare spoke with the royals.
Snow Pea exclaimed, “I can’t believe I’m seeing kelpies and mermares right before my eyes!”
Jewel chuckled, “Of course. We once helped your mother rescue her true love.”
Discord asked in an irritated tone, “Then why didn’t you answer when I blew the conch shell?”
Cassie answered, “We can tell different pitches from one another. And besides, we wanted to make sure you weren’t crying wolf again.”
The royals all turned to Discord, who nervously smiled, “Okay, I might’ve been playing with the conch shell one or two times in the past.”
Jewel said, “We all knew that the perpetual darkness meant that something was wrong, but we didn’t know what.”
Sunset said, “I hate to say this, but it might be the Reign of Darkness.” The group of mermares and sea sprites gasped at that. 
Cassie muttered in a concerned tone, “The Umbrum have returned.”
Discord said, “Well…Not ‘returned’, per se. Several of them found us, but we bested them. Now it’s the princess you have to worry about.”
Sunset nodded, “Mm-hmm. If she hasn’t attacked us yet, then that might mean she cannot leave the Umbrum world. And we think she might need all four pieces of the Elemental Jewelry to do that.”
Jewel said, “But you’re wearing the tiara and the bracelets, aren’t you? So she won’t get to those pieces.”
Sunset said, “Yes, but she might want to kidnap us so we could turn as evil as she is and join her.”
Spike asked, “So do you have any idea where the Water Necklace might be?”
Cassie hung her head and sighed, “No, unfortunately. You see, we had hidden it on Bony Rock, but pirates had managed to steal it and leave Bony Rock unharmed. It is now nowhere to be found.”
Jewel said, “Believe us, we tried everything to find it, but we weren’t lucky.”
Snow Pea asked, “Did you ask for help or send sea creatures out to search for it?”
Cassie answered, “We dared not to after what happened with the three mermares who ventured to the mainland through the rivers. They wanted to follow the Water Necklace so it could be returned safely to Marendelle, but they did not come back. The only fish who saw what happened to them was Old Fish Tracker. He told us about their encounter with the Umbrum and how they struck a deal with the shadow ponies to live on land. They were lost to us the moment they transformed into…sirens.”
The royals were all agape at this until Screwball said, “Hold on a minute! Are you saying that the sirens were once mermares?!”
Jewel said regretfully, “Yes, but they were blinded by their curiosity and ambition.”
Apple Jewel asked, “Were their names Adagio, Aria, and Sonata?”
The kelpie and mermare exchanged surprised glances and then Jewel answered, “Yes. Those were their names. Where are they now?”
“In the Umbrum world with Princess Belladonna.”
Sunset then asked, “That’s why it’s urgent we need the Water Necklace. We don’t know what it looks like and we hope that you have a picture of it somehow.
Cassie nodded, “Yes, we do. Jewel, go to Starry Cove and retrieve a blue-and-silver canister. It has what the royals need.”
Jewel nodded and swam away.
Cassie then asked, “Just how did you come by the Fire Tiara and Earth Bracelets?”
Sunset explained, “The sirens found them and were planning to bring them to Belladonna, but we intercepted and got the jewelry stuck on Snow Pea and me instead.”
“Did you recognize the jewelry or the sirens?”
“Not until much later. We thought it was just ordinary jewelry, but we didn’t find out what they were until they got stuck on us and the sleeping curse hit.”
“A sleeping curse? We were aware that something was amiss, but how is this possible?”
It almost broke Sunset’s heart to say it, but she said, “The Umbrum…turned Princess Luna…evil. It was she who brought the eternal night and combined her magic with the sirens’ magic to spread a sleeping curse all over Equestria. It’s only affected ponies, but the jewelry makes Snow Pea and me immune.”
Cassie stayed silent for a few moments and said, “I am sorry about your aunt. I hope you find a way to bring her back into the light. And bring light back into the world, too.”
Jewel then reappeared and held a canister in her fins. She said, “Here you go. I hope this helps.”
Sunset grabbed the canister with her magic and smiled, “I think it’s going to help a lot.”
She opened the canister and pulled out a rolled-up piece of paper. When Sunset unrolled the paper, Discord let out a gasp.
Screwball asked, “Dad? Is something wrong?”
Discord replied, “It’s just…the picture. It looks exactly like something I gave to a friend long ago.”
“You had a friend other than Mom?”
“Yes. She was the only friend I ever made before I met your mother.”
“Maybe we can find her.”
“Well, the problem is she disappeared a long time ago and I don’t know if I can find her again. Believe me, I tried looking for her, but I wasn’t very successful. And besides, I don’t even know if this Water Necklace is the same one I gave her. I mean, there was a bunch of necklaces just like it. I just picked out the one most different from them.”
Cassie asked, “Discord, answer me this: were the words ‘Made in Manehattan’ on it?”
Discord thought for a moment before replying, “No, not really. But maybe I just didn’t look hard enough.”
Jewel said, “Discord, if your friend does possess the Water Necklace, then you can use a searching crystal to find her and the necklace.”
Cassie said, “We can’t travel far inland except by river. If she’s nowhere near any water source, then your best option is to take a crystal and use it to search for her and/or the Water Necklace.”
Jewel then asked, “Where did you see her last?”
Discord said, “Well, the last time I saw her was in the Crystal Empire.”
Cassie said, “Then take a searching crystal and start there.”
A sea pony then rose to the surface with a light pink crystal in its fins.
As Discord was grabbing the crystal, Jewel instructed them, “To find the Water Necklace, just imagine it and point the crystal in every direction until you get a light. The brighter the light is, the nearer you are to the necklace. Hopefully, if the necklace you gave to your friend was real, the crystal will lead you straight to her as well.”
Discord smiled, “I can’t thank you enough. Both of you.”
Sunset nodded, “You are doing a great service for Equestria. I just hope we can set everything right again.”
Cassie and Jewel bowed their heads in respect as the mermare said, “We wish you safe travels and the best of luck on your quest.”
The royals bowed their heads as Sunset said, “Thank you.”
Discord said, “What are we waiting for? Let’s go!” He grabbed the royals and flashed them away.





Nightmare Moon returned to the castle and told Belladonna, “It seems that your patience has paid off. The royals have arrived in the Crystal Empire.”
Belladonna hissed evilly, “Excellent. Now I make my move.” 
Within mere moments, she converted to her shadowy form and raced out of the Umbrum world.





Discord took the crystal, concentrated on the Water Necklace, and pointed it in every direction. He did this for a minute or so until Spike said, “Uh, Discord? Are you sure this is where you saw your friend last?”
The draconequus admonished, “Of course I’m certain. Now don’t throw me off.” He went back to swaying the crystal at the horizon until a faint light began to glow. “Ah! She was wearing the real thing after all. Now let’s go!”
The royals followed Discord up the path leading to Yakyakistan. When he noticed that most of them were getting cold, he snapped up winter wear for them. As they searched, the light began to glow brighter and brighter still.
Discord said excitedly and hopefully, “She must be close by! Come on!”
Just after they had traveled several feet, Discord stopped in his tracks.
Screwball asked, “Daddy, what’s wrong?”
Discord put a claw to his head and said, “I…I think I’m having a vision.”
Spike asked, “Can crystals even give you visions?”
The Lord of Chaos said, “Well, this one seems to…” He held up the crystal so he wouldn’t lose the vision.
Suddenly, Snow Pea shivered. 
Sunset asked, “Are you okay, Snowy?”
Snowy responded in a shaky voice, “It’s…come back again, Aunt Sunny. The cold I felt at…” Just then, she realized something. She said in a stronger voice, “I think I know who it is!”
At that moment, images appeared in Discord’s head. He saw a black neckpiece with two black pearls on it.
He thought, Wait, isn’t that…?
Snow continued, “Back at the Faire, I sensed something! Screwball did, too!”
Discord concentrated on the neckpiece and all darkness unraveled from it.
“The hurt, the anger, the hate.” 
Discord could see the Water Necklace and the wearer more clearly, but fear gripped him.
No…No…
“It’s the Umbrum princess!”
Discord’s ears drooped and his fearful eyes flew open as soon as he knew who it was. 
Radiant Hope?!
Belladonna sensed this and said, “He is free at last.”
Discord shrieked at the top of his lungs, “NOOOOOOO!”
As soon as he fainted onto the snow, Screwy asked worriedly, “Daddy?”
Apple Jewel asked, “What happened?”
Suddenly, they heard a menacing howl in the distance.
Snow Pea gasped, “Oh, no…She’s here.”
Just then, a shadowy mass appeared out of the blue. It had eyes that were green and purple with red mist trailing from them.
Sunset shouted, “GO!”
She levitated Discord and ran with the other royals. They then came upon a cave and to their surprise, a Yeti/baboon monster appeared! It looked at the royals threateningly until it glanced at the shadow following them. It gave a yelp before it retreated back into its cave.
Sunset cried, “Get inside!” She then threw Discord into the cave and stopped to face Belladonna. 
Snow Pea saw this and said, “Aunt Sunny, no!”
“Don’t worry about me! Just get inside!”
Sunset then blasted her magic at the shadow, but it dodged it with ease. Before the shadow could envelope the unicorn, Sunset ran at super speed and kicked up snow to distract Belladonna. When Sunset saw that her family had made it to the cave, she ran toward it at super speed and blasted at the rocks above the entrance. She gave a mighty jump and landed inside before the rocks could cover the entrance. 
Belladonna hissed when the entrance was completely covered and slowly made her way back to her lair.
Apple Jewel said, “It’s so dark in here!”
Just then, Sunset activated her horn so the light from her magic filled the cave. She said to Spike, “Spike, can you make a fire?”
Spike looked all around and said, “I see some kindling in the nest. I’d have to get past the creature, though.”
Screwball said, “That shouldn’t be a problem.”
The royals turned to see Screwball rubbing the monster’s tummy. It kicked its legs in content and panted happily.
Screwy said, “I’m calling him Snowbutt McTwinkles.”
Spike said, “We are not keeping it as a pet.” 
He grabbed the kindling while the monster was distracted, formed a pile, and blew fire on the sticks. When the fire was bright enough, Sunset deactivated her horn. 
When they heard groaning, Snow Pea exclaimed, “Look! Uncle Discord’s waking up!”
The royals then rushed over to Discord as he began to stir. He opened his eyes and asked, “What happened?”
Sunset explained, “You were having a vision when you conked out. Belladonna ambushed us, but we got to the safety of the cave before she could get to us.”
Discord sat up and saw the Yeti monster, who sat in its nest all docile. He then looked all around and asked, “Where’s the crystal?”
Screwball lifted her hat and revealed the crystal on her mane. She said, “Right here, Daddy. You gave us quite a scare.”
Discord thought as he grabbed the crystal, Then there’s still hope. Maybe it wasn’t really Radiant Hope, but Belladonna. Maybe Belladonna isn’t…
He went to the blocked entrance as he thought this and held out the crystal to find the Water Necklace. When he concentrated, though, all he saw was a shadowy mass moving away from the cave. He focused on the mass and saw Radiant Hope inside the blackness.
She is.
He dropped the crystal and stood silent.
Spike asked, “Discord…Are you okay?”
Discord replied in a broken voice, “No, I’m not. I think I need to be alone for a while.”
When the rest of the royals went further into the cave, Discord let a single tear fall from his eye.